mechanical

[ muh-kan-i-kuhl ]

adjective

1. having to do with machinery:

   a mechanical failure.

2. being a machine; operated by machinery:

   a mechanical toy.

3. caused by or derived from machinery:

   mechanical propulsion.

4. using machine parts only.
5. brought about by friction, abrasion, etc.:

   a mechanical bond between stones; mechanical erosion.

6. pertaining to the design, use, understanding, etc., of tools and machinery:

   the mechanical trades; mechanical ability.

7. acting or performed without spontaneity, spirit, individuality, etc.:

   a mechanical performance.

8. habitual; routine; automatic:

   Practice that step until it becomes mechanical.

9. belonging or pertaining to the subject matter of mechanics. mechanics.
10. pertaining to, or controlled or effected by, physical forces.
11. (of a philosopher or philosophical theory) explaining phenomena as due to mechanical action or the material forces of the universe.
12. subordinating the spiritual to the material; materialistic.

noun

1. a mechanical object, part, device, etc.
2. Printing. a sheet of stiff paper on which has been pasted artwork and type proofs for making a printing plate; paste-up.
3. Obsolete. a skilled manual laborer, as a carpenter or other artisan.

mechanical

/ mɪˈkænɪkəl /

adjective

1. made, performed, or operated by or as if by a machine or machinery

   a mechanical process

2. concerned with machines or machinery
3. relating to or controlled or operated by physical forces
4. of or concerned with mechanics
5. (of a gesture, etc) automatic; lacking thought, feeling, etc
6. philosophy accounting for phenomena by physically determining forces
7. (of paper, such as newsprint) made from pulp that has been mechanically ground and contains impurities

noun

1. printing another name for camera-ready copy
2. archaic.
   another word for mechanic

Derived Forms

• meˈchanically, adverb
• meˈchanicalness, noun
• meˈchanicalism, noun

Other Words From

• me·chani·cal·ly adverb
• me·chani·cal·ness me·chani·cali·ty noun
• nonme·chani·cal adjective
• nonme·chani·cal·ly adverb
• nonme·chani·cal·ness noun
• quasi-me·chani·cal adjective
• quasi-me·chani·cal·ly adverb
• semi·me·chani·cal adjective
• super·me·chani·cal adjective
• super·me·chani·cal·ly adverb
• unme·chani·cal adjective
• unme·chani·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of mechanical¹

1375–1425; late Middle English, equivalent to mechanic mechanical + -al ¹; mechanic

Example Sentences

Led by Lianyi Chen, an associate professor of mechanical engineering at UW-Madison, the team discovered the mechanisms and identified the processing conditions that can lead to this significant reduction in defects.

From Science Daily

Just like people, cells are constantly subjected to stress -- stress from biochemical reactions that have become unbalanced and mechanical stress from moving.

From Science Daily

A suite of agricultural techniques called integrated pest management combines biological, chemical and mechanical controls to sustainably manage pests.

From Science Daily

This way, patients wouldn't have torely only on heart transplants or other kinds of long-term mechanical support.

From Science Daily

What are the effects of UV radiation, temperature differences or mechanical stress on plastics and the chemicals they contain?

From Science Daily

Related Words

• automated
• automatic